Internal combustion engine



L. M. WOOLSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Dec. 4, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 19, 1930 Dec. 4, 1934. 1.. M. NO OLSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E j /Z 7 5 73 g 1 ,5 H g 7 WW I I E 76 3a 36 I 62 Z 55 i 52 \a 21 if; I 22 g :23?

Snnentor 83M W, W

Cittornegs men-ts and accessories.

' instrument and its driving: mechanism; and is Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED srA 1,982,721 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Lionel M. Woolson, deceased, latev of Detroit,

Mich, by Emma F; Woolson, executrix, Bloom.- I field Village, Michz, assignor to Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Michigan I i I I Application- July 19, 1930,. Serial No.- 469,132

22 Claims. (or. 123-198).

This invention relates to engines, and while capable of general use, is particularly adapted. for use in internal combustion engines.

It is: desirable that internal combustion engines. and motor vehicles, boats, aircraft, etc., propelled by such engine's, be equipped with various instruments and accessories for ascertaining hours of use and other information" in connection with their operation, and various power take-oil devices and methods have. heretofore been employed forconnecting instruments with engines or parts driven thereby, to operate said instruments and thus obtain the desired information. The power take-off devices. for instruments, with which I am acquainted, however, have certain defects and disadvantages, in that they are not readily accessible for repairs or replacements, and can only be used with certain types of installations, or with certain types of engines. Moreover, it is customary to associate accessories with, and to drive the same from, the engine, and heretofore the driving mechanism for these accessorieshas been independent of the power takeoff device for the instrument. This results in the necessityior an. in:- creased number of movable parts and has the disadvantage of correspondingly increased. manufacturing, installation, and purchasing. costs;

One object of the present invention is to overcomethese defects and disadvantages by the: provision of an improved power-take-off device, that may beused with various types. of engines and installationsjand with engine propelled vehicles, boa-ts, aircraft, etc., and which enables both an instrument or accessory and another accessory, to be driven fromthe engine.

Another object of the present invention is. to provide a readily accessible engine driven power take-off device, which; serves to drive an instrument and another accessory, and canbe readily and quickly assembled with and disassembled from the engine, the instrument, and. the acces- SOXYL Another object of the present invention is to provide a power take-oil. device, which is of standard construction and can be supplied" in large quantities-as an accessory capable: of installation with various types of engines, and,- with va-ri'ous types of engine driven: vehicles, boats, aircraft, etc., to drive various. types of instrugine and anwaccessory to support the latter and said instrument in driving relation: with said engme.

Another-object of? the present' invention is to provide an improved? mechanism" which enables the period of use ofv an engi'neoperated at substa-ntiallyconstant speed, to be indicatedby; an instrument directly connected with. said engine through said mechanism, thus eliminating. the use: of clocks, governors, clutches; or'other: devices whose functions might be impaired by their operation in conjunction with the: engine.-

Another object of the: present invention is to provide improved mechanism whiclrenables the user of an; engine. to ascertain the: period of time it has been in. use, and: also enables the engine Same f or iner' or inspector of. an engine" may ascertain the priorperiod. of" use of a returned" engine; and which is capable oft'being: applied: to the engine soas to enable tampering with orremoval ofsaid mechanism to: be readily" detected. i

These and other objects of the present inven tion will appear as the following description thereof proceeds, and in order tomore clearly understand said invention; reference. may be had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of: the: inventiveidea.

In said drawingsv i Fig. I is a fragmentary end elevation; of: an engine equipped. with: mechanism embodying. the present. invention;

Fig. 2' is a'detail perspective viewat said; mechanism and associated accessories one of. which is shownv separated from the mechanism for-purposes. of clearer illustration;

Fig: 3 is an enlarged: detail. perspective view ofrdrivingv connectionsbetween the engine, mechanism, and accessories, certain of the parts being shown separated for purposes of clearer illustration;

.E'ig. 4:18 an enlarged: vertical longitudinal sec- Another" object of the: present invention is to provide a spacer unit between. an engine and an accessory, which constitutes a housing for an maker or inspector to ascertain the periodnot use i provide improved mechanism by which the maklcs capable of being quickly mounted between: an ena a ion tional view of the mechanism and driving connections, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings,pwherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, 10 indicates broadly an end portionof an internal combustion engine which,

as herein shown, is of the aeronautical radial.

Diesel type having a crankcase 11 on which the cylinders 12 of the engine are secured :by suitable means for this purpose. ,,Journaled in suitable bearings in the crankcase 11, isa crankshaft 13 having fixed thereon a pinion 14'jwhich;meshes, with an idler gear 15 journaled in the crankcase and having a bearing 16 provided thereby. The gear 15, together with the crankshaft 13, serves to drive a lubricating oil pump '17 through a gear or other accessory, through 18, a fuel pump 19 a gear 20, and other motor auxiliaries (not shown). The gears 18 and 20, the gear 15, and the pinion 14, are all disposed within the crank-. case 11 of the engine, as'clearly shown in, Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The gear 20 for driving the fuel pump 19,0r other accessory, .is mounted-on the squared, portion 21 of a shaft 22 that is journaled in suitable bearings in the crankcasell and may serve to drive mechanism therein (not shown) The gear 20 is retained against endwisedisplacement on the shaft22 by a flange 22' thereon and a sleeve 23 having a square bore 24v which -receives the squared portion 21 of saidshaft 22. This sleeve 23 is rotatably mounted. in a bearing sleeve 25 secured to or formed integrally with aplate 26, flange 27 of the sleeve 25 bearing against the gear 20, and flange 28 of the sleeve 23 bearing against the plate 26 and extending'into a recess 29 formed therein. The plate 26 is fitted and secured in an opening 30 formed in an end wall portion 31 of-the crankcase 111, the sleeve'25 of said plate being provided with oil holes 32 :or the like for lubricatingthe sleeve 23.

In accordance with the present inv.ention,the fuel pump 19, or other accessory isspaced from the'engine proper by a spacer. unit which is indicated broadly at 33 .andserves to drive both said pump or other accessory and an instrument such as atachometer, odometer, or the like. As herein shown, the spacer unit housesv both said instrument and the driving means therefor and the spacer unit andinstrument housings 34 and 35 are preferably formed integrally with each other. The spacer unit housing 34 is mounted on the end wallportion-3l of the crankcase 11,

and the fuel pump housing 36 is'mounted on the spacer unit housing'at the side thereof opposite that bearing against said end wall portion 31 of the crankcase 11. The spacer unit housing 34 is provided with a flange 37 extending in and fitting the wall of the opening 30, and said housing is secured to the end wall portion 31 of crankcase 11' by bolts' 38 or other suitable fastening devices whichalso serve'to securethelfuel pump housing 36 to the spacer unit housing 34-. Bolts 39 serve to secure the cover of the fuel pump to the housing 36, and suitable washers 40, 41 are interposed between the spacer unit housing 34 and the crankcase wall portion- 31, and between said spacer unit housing andthe fuel pump housing 36, respectively. The bolts '38 could if desired, be provided with suitable sealing means for pre- "venting unauthorized removal of thespacer unit from the engine,

Journaled in a suitable bearing 42 formed in the outer end wall of the spacer unithousing 34, is a bushing 43 having a square bore 44. This bushing is provided with a flange 45 which bears against the inner end of the bearing 42. The square bore 44 of bushing 43 receives the squared end 46 of a'main driving shaft 47 of reduction gearing hereinafter described, and when the spacer unit is secured on the crankcase wall portion 31, the squared end 43 of shaft 47 will be received by the square bore 24 of sleeve 23 and thus enable shaft 47 to be driven directly from the crankshaft l3 through the gears 14, 15, 20,

w the shaft2l, and the sleeve 23. In order to prevent axial displacement of the shaft 47 and the bushing 43, said shaft is provided with flanges 49 and 50 which bear against the outer end of sleeve 23 and the inner end of bushing 43, respectively.

Mounted within the spacer unit housing 34 is reduction gearing for driving the tachometer, odometer, or other desired instrument or accessory, and said reduction gearing is preferably comprised by elements associated and mounted in'said housing as follows. Rigidly secured to, or formed integrally with, the shaft 4'? is a pinion 51 which meshes with a gear 52 having a hub 53' thatis journaled in a suitable bearing 54 provided by an extension 55 of the outer end wall 56 of the housing 34. The bearing 54 is spaced from said end wall of the housing 34, and arranged inthe space between said bearing and said end wall is a worm pinion 57. The gear 52 and the worm pinion 5'? are mounted on the squared portion 58 of a shaft 59. This shaft 59 has one end journaled in a suitable bearing 60 in the end wall 56 of housing 34 and an opposite end provided with a collar or nut 61 bearing against the gear 52 and the crankcase wall portion 31 and serving 'to prevent longitudinal displacement of shaft 59 and the parts oarriedthereby.

The worm pinion 57 meshes with a worm gear 62 which projects into an oil well 62 formed in the bottomcf housing 34 and supplied with lubricant through a duct 62" in the end wall 56 of said housing. The worm gear 62 is rigidly secured, as by a set screw 63, on a shaft 64 extending below and transversely of the shaft 59. This shaft 64 is journaled in suitable bearings 65, 66 (Fig. 5) formed on the spacer unit housing 34, and the hub 67 of gear 62 is disposed between said bearings in abutting relation with the inner, opposed ends thereof. The hub 67, and set screw 63 thus prevent endwise displacement of shaft 64 in the bearings 65, 66. Fixed on one end of the shaft 64 is a crank a pin 68 and a second crank 69, forms a readily detachable driving coupling between the shaft 64 and a shaft 70 on which the crank 69 is fixed. The shaft '70 constitutes the main drive shaft for an instrument such as a tachometer, odometer, or the like which, as herein shown, includes a casing '71 and is mounted in the instrument housing 35. The tachometer, odometer, or other instrument, however, could be mounted at a point remote from the spacer unit housing 34, and connected with the shaft 64 by the before described or other suitable shaft and coupling means.

The driving gear train of the instrument in the casing '71 and housing 35, is indicated generally at '72, and may be of the usual or any well known form adapted to operate a pointer I3 in conjunction with a dial 74. The instrument is calibrated in units of time according to the R. P. M. of the engine to which said instrument is connected, and the pointer 73 indicates on the 68 which, together with dial. 74+ the, period of: use

ring 76' having threaded is: preferably secured on the housing ring 76, in order to detect unauthorized tampersleeve '23.

of the engine. A glass or other transparent cover for the instrument, is indicated at 7 5, andv said: cover and instrument are retained in place in the housing by a engagement. with the wall thereof. A soft metal seal 77 or the like, 35 and ing with, or removal of, the instrument from the housing 35.

The pump 19; 'or'other accessory, is bolted or otherwise suitably secured on the spacer unit,

as before described, and said pump 19 or accessory includes a. drivingshaft 78 having a squared end 79 which, when the pumpismounted on the spacer unit, extends in thesquare bore 44 of the bushing 43 and is driven by said bushing? and the shaft 47 th-rough the described connections therefor with the crankshaft 13. It will thus appear that the spacer unit servesnot only to drive the tachometer, odometer, or other instrument empioyed, but also to drive the pump 19 or other accessory employed, and that both instrumentalities are driven directly from the crankshaft 13 of the engine. Both the spacer unit housing 34 and the flange 36 of the pump housing 3'6 are provided with align'ed openings for the bolts '38 which secure the spacer unit and the pump or other accessory to the end wallportion 31 of the crankcase 11. In case of removal of the spacer unit from the crankcase 11, the pump 19 could thus be mounted directly on the crankcase end wall 31 with the-squared end 79 of shaft '18 extending into the squared bore 24 of the The shaft 78 and movable parts of the pump- 19 would then be driven by the sleeve 23 through the described connections therefor with the crankshaft 13. In this particular case, where the accessory is an oil pump, the conduits connecting said fuel pumpwith the fuel lines are of tubing sufiiciently flexible to provide for move ment of the pump from one position to another upon insertion or removal of the spacer unit. Of course, any other form of adjustable connections between the pump and the fuel lines could be provided.

It will appear, from. the foregoing, that the present invention affords a highly efiicient power take-01f device from an engine to. a tachometer, odometer, or the like, and that said power take .off' device may be readily associated with. and re moved from engines of various types. It will fur ther appearthat the construction .of the unit 'cm- 'bodying the power take-oitdevice is enablesaid unit to be compactly assembled with an engine and an accessory to space them apart and drive both said accessory and a tachometer odometer or other instrument directly from said engine. Moreover, the present invention provides a spacer unit and power take-oif device for instruments, which may be manufactured in large quantities as an accessory and supplied, to the trade. with assurance that the same will operate efiiciently in a wide variety of types of installations, and. with various types of internal; combustion engines and accessoriestherefor.

Further, in the case of an engine operated at constant speed, the present invention affords means for determining the period of use of the engine directly from the crankshaft thereof and without the necessity for employing clock mechanism, automatic clutches or connections, or other complicated devices that are likely to get out of order or operate inefficiently for the desired purpose. In the case of aircraft engines, for examsuch as to being pie, which usually run at constant speed, the

present invention may be employed to ascertain, at all times, the period of use of the engine in flight. Itis customary, after anaeronautical engine" has been used in flight acertain number of hours, to return the engine to the maker or to an inspection place for inspection and repairs. Engine makers and experts generally recommend that this be done after the enginehas been: used in flightsiapproximately to 100 hours. By the present invention, pilotsof'aircraft will be enabled to determine' when the engine'should be inspected and repaired, and the enginemaker and inspector will also be enabled to determine, upon return of the engine to them for inspection or repairs, the number of hours the engine has been used in flight, between repairs and inspections. The pilots of aircraft, on the one hand, will thus have'an: accurate check on the engine, and the maker'of the aeronautical engine, on the other hand, will thus have a check that will enable him to ascertain whether or not his recommendations have been followed inthe matter of inspection and repairs of the engine after a certain period of use of the same in. flight. Moreover, the mounting and sealing of the spacer unit and instrument is such thatztampering with the same can be readily detected, and unfair advantage. of the 5 engine maker in the matter of repairs and ireplacements will thus be prevented. l

The present invention may be used in connection with various types-of internal combustionengines, and with various types of engine operated vehicles, boats, aircraft, etc., and while, for purposes: of illustration, one vention has been hereindescribed andillustrated in connection with an aeronautical. engine, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited to said embodiment, or to use in connection. with any particular type of engine, vehicle, boat, aircraft, etc.,lor otherwise, than by the terms of the appended claims. i

What is: claimed is 1..-In a power transmission mechanism, driving and driven members and 'a removable power transmission unit adapted for insertion between the'driving and. driven members to connect them in driving relation, the driving and driven members being spaced axially by said unit when connected in driving relation thereby and saiddrivving and driven membersbeing formed for connection in direct driving relation with each other when the, power transmission unit iss'removed.

2'. Ina power transmission mechanism, driving and driven members, an accessory, able power transmission unit insertable between the members and adapted to transmit power from the driving member the accessory,

to the driven member and said driving and driven members spac-ed by the unit and adapted to be as sociated in direct driving relation when said unit 'is' removed.

3. In a power transmission'mechanism, a series'of units adapted to be associated in driving relation, an intermediate unit being removable and'the' terminal units" being adapted for association in direct driving relation upon removal of said intermediate unit.

4. In combination, an engine, an accessory, and a removable transmission unit adapted for insertion between the engine and the accessory to conmeet them in driving relation and provide a power take-cit from the engine to another accessory, and means adapted to connect the engine and the first named accessory withthe transmission embodiment of the inand a removunit and to connect said engine and said first named accessory in direct driving relation upon removal of said transmission unit. 5. In combination, an engine, an accessory, a removable transmission unit adapted for insertion between the engine and the accessory to connect them in driving relation and provide a power take-off from the engine to another accessory, and means adapted to connect the engine and the first named accessory with the transmission unit and to connect said engine and said first named accessory in direct driving relation upon removal of said transmission unit. a

6. A power transmission unit of the type adapted to be interposed betweenan engine and an accessory normally driven by said engine, comprising a housing adapted to be interposed between the engine and the accessory to space them apart, an indicating instrument associatedwith said housing, gearing in said housing adapted to drive said instrument, means adapted to connect one element of said gearing with the engine to be driven thereby, and means adapted to connect the same element with the accessory to drive the latter, said unit being insertable and removable as a whole between the engine and the accessory,

and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

7. A power transmission unit of the type adapted to be interposed between an engine and an accessory normally driven by an engine, comprising a housing adapted to be interposed between the engine and the accessory to space them apart, an indicating instrument associated with said housing, reduction gearing in said housing adapted to drive said instrument and including a main driving shaft, means adapted to connect said main driving shaft with the engine to be driven thereby, and means adapted to connect said shaft with the accessory to drive the latter, said unit being insertable and removable as a whole between the engine and the accessory, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

8. A power transmission unit of the type adapted to be interposed between an engine and an accessory normally driven by said engine, comprising a housing adapted to be interposed between the engine and the accessory to space them apart, means adapted to secure said housingto the engine and to support said accessory thereon, an indicating instrument associated with said housing, gearing in said housing adapted to drive said instrument, and means adapted for detachably connecting said gearing with the engine and with the accessory to be driven by the former and to drive the latter, said unit being insertable and removable as a whole between the engine and the accessory, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

9. A power transmission unit of the type adapted to be interposed between an engine and an accessory normally driven by said engine, comprising a housing adaptedto be interposed between the engine and the accessory to space them apart, an indicating instrument associated with said housing, mechanism in said housing adapted to drive said instrument, and means adapted to detachably connect said mechanism and the accessory whereby both the accessory and said mechanism may be driven by the engine, said unit being insertable and removable as a whole between the engine and the accessory, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normallydriven by the engine.

,, 10. A spacer unit of the type adapted to be interposed between an engine and an accessory normally driven by said engine, including means adapted to be connected with an indicating instrument to operate the same, and devices for detachably connecting said means with the engine and with said accessory, said unit being insertable and removable as a whole between the engine and the accessory, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

11. A power transmission device of the type adapted to be interposed between an engine and an accessory normally driven by said engine, comprising a housing adapted to be interposed between and connected with the engine and the accessory, a shaft in said housing adapted for detachable connection with both the engine and the accessory, and gearing in said housing operatively connected with said shaft and providing a power take-off to an indicating instrument, said housing and its contained shaft and gearing being insertable and removable as a unit between the engine and the accessory, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

12. An instrument of'the type for indicating a function of the number of revolutions made by the shaft of an engine, comprising a housing adapted to be interposed between an engine and an accessory normally driven by said engine, transmission means within said housing adapted for detachable driving connection with both the crankshaft of said engine and said accessory, an indicator carried by said housing, and means for driving said indicator from said transmission means, said housing and indicator being insertable and removable as a unit between said engine and said accessory, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

13. The combination with an engine and an accessory normally driven directly thereby, of means for spacing and driving the accessory from the engine and including instrument operating mechanism one element of which is adapted to be operatively connected with both said engine and said accessory, said means being insertible and removable as a unit between said engine and accessory, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

14. The combination with an engine and an accessory normally driven directly thereby, of means for spacing and driving the accessory from the engine and providing a power take-off therefrom for driving an indicating instrument, said means being in'sertible and removable as a unit between said engine and accessory, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

15. The combination with an engine and an accessory normally directly driven thereby, of an engine driven member journaled in the engine crankcase in alignment with an opening therein, a housing adapted to fit on thecrankcase over said opening and carrying a shaft one end of which projects from-the housing to align with the engine driven member, means for establishaccessory to space them apart and to support said ing a detachable driving connection between the shaft and said engine driven member, and gear- 1112' Ill the housing operatively connected with said shaft and providing a power take-off from the engine to an indicating instrument, said housing and its contained shaft and gearing being insertible and removable as a unit between said engine and accessory, and when in'place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

16. A spacer unit comprising a housing adapted to be interposed between an engine and an accessory normally driven thereby, a shaft in said housing, means for detachably connecting the shaft with drivenelements of the engine and the accessory respectively, and gearing in the housing operatively connected with the shaft and providing a power take-01f to an indicating instrument when the spacer unit and the accessory are assembled in operative relation with each other and said engine, said spacer unit being insertible and removable as a whole between said engine and accessory, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

17. A spacer unit comprising a housing adapted to be interposed between an engine'and an accessory normally driven thereby, a shaft in said housing having squared ends one of which is adapted to be detachably connected with a driven element of the engine, a bushing journaled in the housing having a square bore receiving the other squared end of the shaft and adapted to receive the squared end of a driven shaft of said accessory, and gearing in the housing operatively connected with the shaft therein and providing a power take-01f from the engine to an indicating instrument when the spacer unit and the accessory are assembled in operative relation with each other and said engine, said spacer unit being insertible and detachable as a whole between said engine and accessory, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

18. In mechanism of the character described, a housing adapted to be interposed between an engine and an accessory normally driven thereby, a shaft in the housing adapted to be detachably connected with the engine and with the accessory to drive the latter from said engine, an indicating instrument adapted to be mounted in the housing, and gearing in said housing operatively connected with said shaft and with the instrument to drive it from the engine, said housing and its contained shaft, instrument and gearing being insertible and removable as a unit between said engine and accessory, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

19. In mechanism of the character described, a spacer unit housing adapted to be interposed between and removably connected with an engine crankcase and the housing of an accessory normally d1 W611 by the engine, a shaft in the spacer unit housing adapted to be detachably connected with an engine driven member in said crankcase and with an accessory driving member projecting from the accessory housing, an indicating instrument mounted in the spacer unit housing, and gearing in said spacer unit housing for operatively connecting the shaft therein with said instrument, said housing and its contained shaft, instrument and gearing being insertible and removable as a unit between said engine crank case and accessory housing, and when in place driving the accessory at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven by the engine.

20. The combination with an engine and an accessory normally driven directly thereby, of means for spacing and driving theaccessory from the engineand providing a power take-off from said engine to an indicating instrument, said means being insertable and removable as a unit between said engine and accessory, and when in place driving said accessory at the same speed as when the latteris normally driven directly by the engine.

21. The combination with an engine and an accessory normally driven directly thereby and having a housing, of a shaft forming part of said accessory and projecting from said housing, an engine driven member mounted in the engine crankcase in alignment with an opening therein, means adapted to be interposed between and detachably connected with the engine crankcase and the accessory housing and including a spacer unit housing having opposite end walls provided with openings to align with the crankcase openingand the shaft projecting from the accessory housing, a shaft journaled in the spacer unit housing in alignment with the openings therein and adapted to be detachably connected with the engine driven member and said accessory shaft through said openings, and gearing in the spacer unit housing operatively connected with the shaft therein and providing a power take-off from the engine to an indicating instrument, said means being insertable and detachable as a unit between said engine crankcase and the accessory housing, and when in place driving said accessory shaft at the same speed as when the latter is normally driven directly by the engine driven member.

22. In a power transmission mechanism, a plurality of units adapted to be associated in driving relation, an intermediate unit being insertable and removable as a whole in and from the mechanism, said intermediate unit including a part of the driving means between the remaining units, and the remaining units being formed for connection in direct driving relation with one another when said intermediate unit is removed.

EMMA F. WOOLSON, Executrix of the Estate of Lionel M. Woolson, de-

ceased. 

